Improvement in curtain-fixtures



UNITED I STATES PHINEAS W. PHILLIPS, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

137,480, dated April 1, 1873; application filed March 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, PHINEAS W. PHILLIPS, of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Curtain-Fixtures and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to that class of ourtain-fixtures in which a spiral spring arranged within the curtain-roll acts to raise the curtain. The invention consists in a novel arrangement and construction of parts, both as to the roller and one of the brackets in which it is suspended, as tosecure automatically and in a manner to be hereinafter described the retention of the curtain at any desired height,

while under a proper manipulation of the curtain it can be lowered to any point within its limit, and in such a position automatically retained, as before.

In the accompanying plate of drawing my invention is illustrated, Figure 1 being a plan view of a curtain-roller, constructed as to it self, and one of its brackets or supports according thereto; Fig. 2, asectional view in plane of line at a, Fig. 1, with one end of the roller in elevation; Fig; 3, aviewin elevation of the roller end shown in Fig. 2, illustrating the holding of the spring against uncoiling when the roller is out of its brackets.

A in the drawing represents a curtain-roller having a curtain, B, secured to it as ordinarily. Within the roller A, at one end, 0, is arranged a spiral spring, D, that at one end is fastened to the roller, and at the other end to the roller-spindle E, having a square outer end, a, fitting within one bracket, F, so that when the roller, by its end G, is in bracket H, and by its spindle end a in bracket F, the roller can turn to wind and unwind the curtain, the spindle E remaining stationary in either and both cases. This construction and hanging of the roller is similar to the ordinary selfraising curtain-rollers, and therefore needs no more particular description herein. f, pawl at one end hung to a pivot, g, of the head or end I of roller, from which projects the square end of roller-spindle E, the pivot g being located toward the outer periphery of the roller end I. The pawl f can swing loosely on its pivot g, and it has its outer end h made concave, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 more particularly. This pawl, as' the roller revolves from the action of the spring, (if the revolution of the roller be sufficiently quick to overcome the gravity. of the pawl,) is thrown at its outer end outward from the center or axis of revolution of the roller, the extent to which this may occur being limited by the stop-pin l projecting,

as shown, from the face of the roller end I. m,

an arm projecting from front side of rollerbracket F toward the roller end, carrying pawl f, and into the plane of centrifugal swing of the pawl. This arm, in its location regarding the outward swing of the pawl, caused by the rapid rotation of the roller, is such that the pawl, by its outer end, will interlock therewith, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) thus holding the roller against further movement from the action of the spring. The interlock of the pawl f with the arm-m, as above described, will take place at whatever height the curtain may be, under a sufficient momentum of the roller from the action of its spring.

In the use of the curtain-fixture herein described, to lower the curtain, pull it slowly down, which practically causes no outward swing of the pawl, when, having reached the point desired, let go the curtain, or relieve the pull thereon, and, from the action of the rollerspring, to quickly wind up the curtain, the pawl is thrown outward,.so that when it comes to the position of the arm m it must necessarily and unavoidably lock or fasten thereon, as shown, holding the roller against any for ther upward movement of the curtain:

The raising of the curtain is by the action of the spiral spring, as is obvious; and for bringing the curtain to any desired height before allowing the pawl to secure it, it is only necessary to restrain the curtain against a quick upward movement preventing the outward throw of the roller-pawl.

By Fig. 3 the pawl is shown as interlocked with a notch of the spindle, so as to hold it against turning when the roller is out of its bracket, and thus the spring against uncoiling.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is v In a curtain-roller provided with a coiled spring to raise its curtain, the shouldered pawl f pivoted to the curtain-roller, as shown, in combination with the stop I, the projecting end an of the bracket F, and the shouldered end of the spindle E, all constructed and operating substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 3d day of March, 1873.

PHINEAS W. PHILLIPS.

Witnesses: v

CALVIN R. WASHBURN, PARKER J. WEBBER. 

